Wheel-connected building block

ABSTRACT

A wheel-connected building block has a main body, at least one engaging protrusion, and at least one axle. The main body has multiple connecting planes. Each one of the at least one engaging protrusion is formed on one of the multiple connecting planes of the main body. Each one of the at least one axle is formed on and protrudes from one of the other connecting planes. In use, multiple wheel-connected building blocks are respectively connected to wheels and the wheel-connected building blocks are engaged with building blocks, so the building blocks could move on a plane by the friction between the wheels and the plane. When the building blocks are combined to form a static model, the static model could have the moving function by connecting to the wheel-connected building blocks to expand the versatility of the building blocks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from Taiwan Patent Application No. 105100275 filed on Jan. 6, 2016, which is hereby specifically incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wheel-connected building block that is connected to a wheel for building blocks. 2. Description of the Prior Arts

A building block is a kind of toy that builds models by combination. The building block includes various types, so players can combine multiple building blocks in various shapes to build all kinds of complicated models such as architecture and vehicles. However, the models built by the building blocks are mostly static. The static model is suitable for decoration but not for active playing and therefore the versatility is limited, and the conventional technique needs to be improved.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a wheel-connected building block to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Because the building block is static and only has the function of viewing after completion of combination, the present invention improves the building block to expand the versatility of playing after combination.

To achieve the aforementioned objective, a wheel-connected building block in accordance with the present invention comprises a main body, at least one engaging protrusion, and at least one axle. The main body has multiple connecting planes. Each one of the at least one engaging protrusion is formed on one of the multiple connecting planes of the main body. Each one of the at least one axle is formed on and protrudes from one of the other connecting planes that is not formed with the at least one engaging protrusion.

Multiple wheel-connected building blocks are respectively connected to wheels and the wheel-connected building blocks are engaged with building blocks of other types by the at least one engaging protrusion, so the combined building blocks could move on a plane by the friction between the wheels and the plane. When the building blocks are combined to form a static model, the static model could have the moving function by connecting to the wheel-connected building blocks. For the reason, the versatility of the building block is expanded.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a wheel-connected building block in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the wheel-connected building block in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wheel-connected building block in FIG. 1, combined with a building block;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the wheel-connected building block combined with the building block in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a wheel-connected building block in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective combination view of the wheel-connected building block in FIG. 5 and a connecting rod; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connecting plane of the wheel-connected building block combined with the connecting rod in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a wheel-connected building block in accordance with the present invention has a main body 10, two engaging protrusions 20 and two axles 30.

The main body 10 is a rectangular block and has multiple connecting planes 11, wherein every two adjacent planes 11 of the main body 10 are perpendicular to each other.

The two engaging protrusions 20 are cylinders and are formed at a spaced interval on the same connecting plane 11 at the top of the main body 10.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the two axles 30 are respectively formed on two opposite connecting planes 11 of the main body 10. Each one of the axles 30 has a compression groove 31, two limiting blocks 32, and an obstructing block 33. The compression groove 31 is axially formed on an end of the axle 30 away from the body 10. The two limiting blocks 32 are formed on two opposite outer surfaces of the end of the axle 30 and around the compression groove 31. The obstructing block 33 is formed around the axle 30 and securely mounted on one of the connecting planes 11 of the main body 10. The obstructing block 33 is higher than the outer surface of the axle 30 to form a height difference. The obstructing block 33 is mounted at spaced intervals with the two limiting blocks 32.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, in use, multiple wheel-connected building blocks are engaged with a building block 70 by the two engaging protrusions 20, and the two axles 30 extend out of the building block 70. Two wheels 40 are mounted around the two axles 30 of each wheel-connected building block. Each wheel 40 is rotatably mounted around the axle 30. Two sides of each wheel 40 are limited between the two limiting blocks 32 and the obstructing block 33 to avoid the shift along the axle 30 affecting the moving function of the wheels 40.

When the building blocks 70 are combined to form a static model, the static model could have the moving function by connecting to the wheel-connected building blocks. For the reason, the versatility of building blocks is expanded.

In another preferred embodiment, the main body has an engaging protrusion and an axle. The engaging protrusion is formed on one of the connecting planes of the main body. The axle is formed on and protrudes from one of the other connecting planes without any engaging protrusion. A wheel connects to the axle of the main body, and the wheel-connected building block is connected to the building block by the engaging protrusion to give the building block a moving function.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a second embodiment of a wheel-connected building block in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment. The difference is that the main body 10A has two connecting plates 50A. The two connecting plates 50A are formed on two opposite connecting planes 11A that are not formed with any axle 30. Each of the two connecting plates 50A has an engaging hole 51A and multiple reserved holes 52A. The engaging hole 51A is formed through the connecting plate 50A. The multiple reserved holes 51A are formed through the connecting plate 50A and communicate with the engaging hole 51A. An area of each reserved hole 52A is smaller than an area of the engaging hole 51A.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, two building blocks 70 are respectively engaged with multiple main bodies 10 of the wheel-connected building block. One of the connecting plates 50A of each main body 10A extends out of the connected building block 70. A connecting rod 60A is connected to the two building blocks 70. The connecting rod 60A has two engaging portions 61, and the two engaging portions 61A are formed radially and respectively on two ends of the connecting rod 60A. The two engaging portions 61A are respectively engaged with the engaging hole 51A of a rear connecting plate 50A of a first building block 70 and the engaging hole 51A of a front connecting plate 50A of a second building block 70. So the two building blocks 70 could be towed by each other when traveling on the ground, expanding the versatility of the building block 70.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A wheel-connected building block comprising: a main body having multiple connecting planes; at least one engaging protrusion, each one of the at least one engaging protrusion formed on one of the multiple connecting planes of the main body; at least one axle, each one of the at least one axle formed on and protruding from one of the connecting planes that is not formed with the at least one engaging protrusion; at least one connecting plate formed on one of the connecting planes that is not formed with the at least one engaging protrusion and the at least one axle; each of the at least one connecting plate having an engaging hole, the engaging hole formed through the connecting plate; and multiple reserved holes, each of the multiple reserved holes formed through the connecting plate and communicating with the engaging hole; wherein an area of each reserved hole is smaller than an area of the engaging hole; and a connecting rod having two engaging portions, and the two engaging portions formed radially and respectively on two ends of the connecting rod; wherein one of the two engaging portions is engaged with the engaging hole of the at least one connecting plate.
 2. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one engaging protrusion is two, and the two engaging protrusions are formed at a spaced interval on the same connecting plane of the main body.
 3. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one axle is two, and the two axles are respectively formed on two opposite ones of the connecting planes of the main body.
 4. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the number of the at least one axle is two, and the two axles are respectively formed on two opposite ones of the connecting planes of the main body.
 5. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least one axle has a compression groove axially formed in an end of the axle away from the body; and two limiting blocks respectively formed on two opposite outer surfaces of the end of the axle and around the compression groove.
 6. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 4, wherein each one of the axles has a compression groove axially foiiiied in an end of the axle away from the body; and two limiting blocks respectively formed on two opposite outer surfaces of the end of the axle and around the compression groove.
 7. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 5, wherein each one of the axles has an obstructing block, and the obstructing block is formed around the axle.
 8. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 6, wherein each one of the axles has an obstructing block, and the obstructing block is formed around the axle.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one connecting plate of the main body is two, and the two connecting plates are formed on two opposite ones of the connecting planes of the main body.
 12. The wheel-connected building block as claimed in claim 8, wherein the number of the at least one connecting plate of the main body is two, and the two connecting plates are formed on two opposite ones of the connecting planes of the main body.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled) 